Storage apparatus for bulk material, in particular wood chips, and a filling method

Abstract

A storage apparatus for bulk material, in particular wood chips, is provided, the storage apparatus including a bunker for receiving the bulk material and a conveyor apparatus for transporting the bulk material. The conveyor apparatus is arranged within the bunker. The conveyor apparatus is a belt conveyor for transporting the bulk material. A method of controlling uniform filling of a bunker of a storage apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A storage apparatus for bulk material such as wood chips, the storage apparatus comprising:
 a bunker for receiving the bulk material, and 
 a conveyor apparatus for transporting the bulk material, 
 wherein the conveyor apparatus is arranged within the bunker, and the conveyor apparatus is a belt conveyor for transporting the bulk material, wherein the belt conveyor is displaceable within the bunker by a displacement device, 
 the storage apparatus further comprising at least one sensor unit for detecting a local filling state in the bunker, and which is arranged within the bunker, 
 wherein a respective first sensor unit is fixed at one end of the belt conveyor and a second sensor unit is fixed at a second end of the belt conveyor for detecting a filling level height at a first discharge position and at a second discharge position of the bulk material from the belt conveyor. 
 
     
     
       2. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bunker has an inlet arranged in its upper region, wherein the belt conveyor is arranged at least partially under the inlet in the bunker. 
     
     
       3. The storage apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the storage apparatus includes a feed conveyor apparatus arranged outside the bunker for feeding the bulk material on to the belt conveyor through the inlet of the bunker. 
     
     
       4. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement device includes a drive and rails on which the belt conveyor is moveably mounted. 
     
     
       5. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the belt conveyor includes a reversible drive for transporting the bulk material in a first direction and in a second opposite direction. 
     
     
       6. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control configured to operate components of the storage apparatus, the control coupled in signal-conducting relationship to the belt conveyor, the displacement device and at least one sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second belt conveyor which is arranged within the bunker. 
 
     
     
       8. The storage apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second belt conveyors are arranged in mutually juxtaposed or mutually successive relationship and are displaceable substantially along a horizontal axis X. 
     
     
       9. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the belt conveyor has a conveyor belt of a width which is at least 50% of the width of the bunker, preferably a width greater than 75% of the bunker width and particularly preferably a width greater than 85% of the bunker width. 
     
     
       10. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bunker has an inlet arranged in its upper region, wherein the belt conveyor is arranged at least partially under the inlet in the bunker;
 wherein the storage apparatus includes a feed conveyor apparatus arranged outside the bunker for feeding the bulk material on to the belt conveyor through the inlet of the bunker; 
 wherein the displacement device includes a drive and rails on which the belt conveyor is moveably mounted; 
 wherein the belt conveyor includes a reversible drive for transporting the bulk material in a first direction and in a second opposite direction; 
 the storage apparatus further comprising: a control configured to operate components of the storage apparatus, the control coupled in signal-conducting relationship to the belt conveyor, the displacement device and at least one sensor; 
 wherein a position of the belt conveyor can be determined by at least one travel sensor along a preferably horizontal axis X within the bunker and can be altered by the control; 
 the storage apparatus further comprising: a second belt conveyor which is arranged within the bunker; 
 wherein the first and second belt conveyors are arranged in mutually juxtaposed or mutually successive relationship and are displaceable substantially along a horizontal axis X; 
 wherein at least one of the at least one sensor units sensor units is fixed to a bunker wall; 
 wherein at least one of the at least one sensor units sensor units is a radar sensor; and 
 wherein the belt conveyor has a conveyor belt of a width which is at least 50% of the width of the bunker, preferably a width greater than 75% of the bunker width and particularly preferably a width greater than 85% of the bunker width. 
 
     
     
       11. A storage apparatus for bulk material such as wood chips, the storage apparatus comprising:
 a bunker for receiving the bulk material, and 
 a conveyor apparatus for transporting the bulk material, 
 wherein the conveyor apparatus is arranged within the bunker, and the conveyor apparatus is a belt conveyor for transporting the bulk material, wherein the belt conveyor is displaceable within the bunker by a displacement device, 
 the storage apparatus further comprising a control configured to operate components of the storage apparatus, the control coupled in signal-conducting relationship to the belt conveyor, the displacement device and at least one sensor, 
 wherein a position of the belt conveyor can be determined by at least one travel sensor along a preferably horizontal axis X within the bunker and can be altered by the control. 
 
     
     
       12. The storage apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor unit for detecting a local filling state in the bunker, and which is arranged within the bunker, 
 wherein at least one of the at least one sensor units is fixed to the belt conveyor and/or the displacement device for detecting a filling level height relative to a position of the belt conveyor. 
 
     
     
       13. The storage apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one sensor units sensor units is fixed to a bunker wall. 
     
     
       14. The storage apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one sensor units sensor units is a radar sensor. 
     
     
       15. A method of controlling uniform filling of a bunker of a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus includes:
 a bunker for receiving a bulk material, 
 a conveyor apparatus within the bunker for transporting the bulk material, which is displaceable by a displacement device, and a reversible drive for transporting the bulk material in a first direction (A) and in a second opposite direction (B), wherein the conveyor apparatus is a belt conveyor, and 
 at least one sensor unit for detecting a local filling state in the bunker, and which is arranged within the bunker, 
 the method comprising: 
 (a) introducing bulk material into the bunker, 
 (b) ascertaining a filling level height of the bulk material in the bunker by at least one sensor unit, wherein a respective first sensor unit is fixed at one end of the belt conveyor and a second sensor unit is fixed at a second end of the belt conveyor such that step (b) includes detecting a filling level height at a first discharge position and at a second discharge position of the bulk material from the belt conveyor, 
 (c) actuating the displacement device of the conveyor apparatus for moving the conveyor apparatus into a first position for setting a discharge position for the bulk material, and 
 (d) actuating the reversible drive of a conveyor belt of the conveyor apparatus in a first direction of travel for setting a discharge position for the bulk material. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (b) can precede step (a), and steps (a)-(d) are repeated as desired.